Burmese Doctor Loses Medical License for Posting ‘Sexy’ Photos on Instagram

San became a physician at the age of 22 but reportedly always dreamt of becoming a “sexy model.” After years of working for various nonprofit medical groups and treating patients, San made the decision two years ago to stop practicing in order to pursue her modeling career more seriously.

The Myanmar Medical Council allegedly approached the former doctor in January stating that her photos were not in compliance with Burmese tradition. She was then forced to sign an agreement stating that she must remove the risqué photos or risk losing her license altogether. However, when the council approached San, they did not call her a model, “Instead, they told me I have a behavior disorder,” she tells the New York Times.

After ignoring these warnings from the council, San’s license was officially revoked on June 3rd of this year.

In an interview with the New York Times, San stated, “Here there is so much sexism… They don’t want women to have higher positions. And they judge women on what we wear. They don’t even want us to wear trousers.”

According to the New York Times, the case of San has spotlighted many issues within the Burmese healthcare system which is often underfunded and understaffed.

The medical council that revoked San’s license, for example, is comprised of 11 men and 2 women. In medical school, women have claimed that they are expected to obtain higher grades compared to their male counterparts just to be admitted.

Once they graduate, these new doctors make low wages, as low as $160 per month. San has admitted that she made more money as a model than she did as a physician and also enjoyed the modeling work more.

San has since stated that she would like to appeal the ruling and attempt to keep her medical license as she may want to return to this career later, perhaps as a volunteer, after her modeling career has ended.